The aim of this work is to provide a methodology for the power generation optimization on large cruise ships in order to improve their operating efficiency, fuel saving and, consequently, to reduce exhaust gas emissions. The electrical load analysis is compared to the machinery reports of actual data in order to investigate if the estimated required power is appropriately close to the real power demand. Relevance is given to the average load of the diesel-generators, which expresses an indication of how the generators work. The model of the ship electric distribution system represents one of the main objectives of this work along with the power system simulations. These were developed through the definition of load profiles, both by the onboard recordings and by machinery reports data. Therefore, the same cruise profile is analyzed under different scenarios, the real and the optimized one, in order to highlight the critical state of the system and any possible margin for improvement.
